Trump rallies for Whatley in North Carolina after GOP pulls money
Donald Trump held a rally in Greenville, North Carolina, on Tuesday for Michael Whatley, the GOP pick for Senate, the Washington Post reported. Whatley trails Democrat Roy Cooper, and national GOP groups have pulled their ad money. Trump also unveiled two new chip projects in the state, the Washington Examiner reported.
President Donald Trump rallied Tuesday night at the Pitt-Greenville Airport in North Carolina for Michael Whatley, the Republican Senate nominee trailing Democratic former Governor Roy Cooper, the Washington Post reported. Senate Republicans' top super PAC canceled tens of millions of dollars in ad spending for Whatley at the start of the month, and a nonprofit associated with Trump has put just over $2 million into the race in the last week, according to the Post.
"I'm the one who got him into this," Trump said with a nervous laugh, the Post reported. "I hope it works out."
Trump and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick announced two semiconductor production efforts in the state, the Washington Examiner reported. Trump pointed to what he described as a $1.5 billion investment to produce semiconductors in North Carolina but gave no details, WRAL reported. Earlier this month, the Pentagon announced a $1.5 billion conditional loan commitment to Durham-based chipmaker Wolfspeed, according to WRAL.
Trump called Cooper "a disgrace to this state" and attacked his release of prisoners during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Examiner reported. A Cooper spokesperson said that "Roy Cooper is the only candidate with plans to make stuff cost less while Michael Whatley led the charge to give billionaires handouts," WRAL reported.
An Elon University poll released Tuesday showed Cooper leading Whatley 52% to 39%, the Examiner reported. Cooper had about $12.4 million in cash on hand going into October to Whatley's $916,000, the Post reported. "The October polls are not determinative of election results in North Carolina," Whatley said in an interview with the Post.
Democratic National Committee chair Ken Martin said ahead of the rally that "there's no greater campaigner for the Democratic Party right now than Donald Trump," WRAL reported. "Keep doing it," he said. Trump said he may return to North Carolina for another rally as soon as next week, the Post and the Examiner reported.
Whatley, a former Republican National Committee chairman, is running for the seat held by outgoing Republican Senator Thom Tillis, the Examiner reported.
What we know: Trump rallied for Whatley as national Republican groups pulled ad money and polls show Cooper ahead.
What we don't: Which companies and sites are behind the chip investments Trump announced.
Where outlets agree The Washington Post, the Washington Examiner and WRAL report that Trump rallied in Greenville for Whatley as polls show Cooper leading the Senate race.
Where they differ The Washington Examiner reports Trump attacked Cooper over pandemic-era prisoner releases, while WRAL reports a Cooper spokesperson said Cooper is the only candidate with plans to make things cost less.